2 good moves on COVID by local officials

As the pandemic continues to evolve in Bexar County, local officials are making some good calls.

Good move No. 1:

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District last week decided to begin counting and investigating all instances of positive COVID-19 antigen tests, even if the individual lacks symptoms.

Before the turnaround, the health department categorized such results as noncases and didn’t include them in the total COVID tally. Those who tested positive for antigens, but were asymptomatic, weren’t contacted by contact tracers. This meant the people they’d potentially exposed to the virus also weren’t contacted and urged to get tested and to isolate.

Which meant silent “community spread” of the virus was given freer rein.

Interim Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger, who first downplayed the need to count and investigate this cohort, has reversed course, telling City Council her agency will count and follow up on these highly accurate tests.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff held off when Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that bars in Texas can reopen, but only if the change is approved by the county judge. Our concern is that will increase the spread of COVID-19 as bars reopen. That said, it’s a big state, and the COVID-19 situation could be quite different in one place than in another. At least Abbott didn’t mandate allowing bars to open. We trust Wolff to make a sound decision guided by public health. And we would rather have local officials make that call.

The pressure to embrace this new loosening — bars can open their doors at half capacity, with patrons having to don masks when not seated — is significant. Bar owners, at least those who have not turned their establishments into pseudorestaurants, have faced a total shutdown.

But obviously Wolff understands the health implications of people sitting around indoors and quaffing alcohol, which loosens inhibitions. Can social distancing really withstand a second — or third — round?

Wolff is going to wait until he gets input from health officials to make a decision.

Right call, judge.

Good move No. 2:

Jerry Lara / Staff photographer Good call by the city to begin tracking positive, asymptomatic antigen tests, like this one at Texas Med Clinic. It’s an important step to reduce the spread of COVID-19.